Ricoh announce Caplio G3 and variations

Ricoh
has today announced the Caplio G3, a three megapixel, three times optical
zoom digital camera with SD/MMC storage (and 8 MB of internal storage).
The big selling point of the Caplio G3 is (Ricoh's claim) the fastest
focusing speed and shutter lag of any digital camera in this class. The
G3 will be available in three variations: the base G3 (black, plastic
body), G3 model M (black, magnesium body), G3 model S (silver, plastic
body, supplied voice software). Personally I think it's a little confusing
for Ricoh to choose a product name identical to Canon's well known PowerShot
G3.

Announcing the Release of the Caplio G3

Tokyo, February 13, 2003. Ricoh is extremely pleased to announce the
release of the Caplio G3 digital camera.

With a blazing 0.14-second shutter response time, the new 3.24-Megapixel
Caplio G3 has done what no digital camera has done before - exceed the
speed of a conventional 35mm camera - a major milestone that makes it
the world's fastest in its class. *

* As of February 1, 2003 for all auto-focus digital cameras. Speed measured
as time between depressing shutter release button and starting exposure
in auto-focus mode without using focus lock.

Building on the runaway success of the revolutionary Caplio RR30, which
in the autumn of 2002 had the world's fastest shutter response at just
0.22-seconds, the Caplio G3's ability to capture action opportunities
quickly and reliably is further complemented with a stylish body shape
that was designed to fit comfortably in the photographer's hand.

The Caplio G3 also boasts the choice of an optional long-lasting lithium-ion
battery that enables hundreds of shots to be taken between charges, two
convenient AA alkaline or nickel metal hydride batteries, or an AC adapter
to power the camera. Its impressive 3.24 effective megapixel CCD that
features a 3x optical zoom lens and a 3.4x digital zoom and industry-leading
1-cm macros provide users with high-resolution images and an excellent
range of shooting possibilities.

For action sequences, M-continuous mode allows the capture of the last
16 frames taken of a subject to one file, which is ideal for analyzing
a golf swing. Users can also record up to 120 seconds of AVI video with
sound.

The Caplio G3's high-sensitivity mode provides exceptional illumination
of subjects in the dark, which aids framing and shooting. Moreover, with
the imaging software provided, making instant image transfers from the
Caplio G3 to USB-equipped personal computers is fast and easy.

"The Caplio G3 is a digital camera that makes all of us at Ricoh
extremely proud. It's lightening fast, fits comfortably in user's hand,
has a wonderful amount of functionality and most of all it's so simple
to use!" says Katsunori Nakata, general manager of the Marketing
Office at Ricoh's Personal Multimedia Products Company. "It's ideal
for both personal and business users alike and a very positive contribution
to the marketplace. We believe the Caplio G3 will significantly elevate
the standard on how digital cameras will be made in the future."

Main Features

World's shortest release time lag
The Caplio G3 makes action photography a visible reality with the world's
shortest release time lag of just 0.14-seconds - effectively eliminating
the problematic slow shutter response time found on the vast majority
of digital cameras today. The Caplio G3 achieves such speed with its hybrid
auto-focusing system, comprising both external and through-the-lens focusing.
From a jaw-dropping 1/2000th of a second to long exposures of 8 seconds,
the shutter speed gives users the ability to capture a fantastic range
of shooting possibilities.

Convenient and dependable power sources
Using the optional lithium-ion battery, the Caplio G3 can take a remarkable
3,500 shots* between recharges. An optional AC adapter is also available
for those wishing to take advantage of a nearby power source; and the
camera also has the rare ability to switch to two AA alkaline or nickel
metal hydride batteries if the occasion calls for it.

1 cm macro photography
The Caplio G3 makes macro photography exciting and addictive by capturing
macros as close as 1cm from a subject. Get in super close to flowers,
a brilliant engagement ring, even your clients' products and seize the
smallest of details, even those practically invisible to the human eye.

The camera also offers macros across a zoom range of up to 16cm away,
while the built-in flash can be used for shots as close as 16cm.

Multi-shot shooting
In M-continuous mode, with the shutter button held down the camera memorizes
the last 16 shots, taken at 0.13-second intervals, in one file. This comes
in handy when users are uncertain about the start or finish of a particular
action. In S-continuous Mode, it can take a series of 16 shots - at 0.13-second
intervals, for two seconds of footage - in one file with just one press
of the shutter button. When reviewing the 16 shots during playback, each
frame can be enlarged individually and quickly skimmed back and forth
delivering a sense of animation to the viewer. All this makes it a useful
and enjoyable tool to analyze golf swings and other action sequences.
In normal continuous mode, the intervals are 0.3 seconds while the button
is being pressed.

High-sensitivity display
The Caplio G3's high-sensitivity mode makes visibility in dim environments
superior to most digital cameras on the marketplace today by illuminating
subjects in the dark to aid in framing and shooting.

Simple image transfers
After installing the RICOH GATE L software into a Windows PC or Mac OS
computer, simply turn off the camera and link the Caplio G3 up via a USB
cable. The computer will then instantly start importing at an impressive
speed of 3 megabytes per second. Mac OS X users can import images with
iPhoto while Windows XP users can take advantage of Windows Image Acquisition.

Compatible with Secure Digital memory cards
The Caplio G3 has 8MB of internal memory and can also use optional Secure
Digital memory cards. These especially compact devices do not need a power
source to store information and permit fast and simple downloads of images.
The camera is also compatible with Multimedia cards.

Synchro monitor mode
In Synchro monitor mode, the Caplio G3 conserves power by turning the
monitor off before shooting. The monitor comes on when the shutter button
is pressed to preview a shot or operate the zoom, and remains on for several
seconds after a picture is taken.

Quick reviews at the press of a button
Most cameras require users to switch modes if they want to review results.
With the Caplio G3, however, users can take advantage of the "Quick
review" capability in any shooting mode by simply pressing a button
to display the most recently taken image.

Six distinct scene modes
The Caplio G3 offers six distinct scene modes: portrait, sports, landscape,
night scene, text, and high-sensitivity, all of which help to optimize
results depending on the shooting situation.

Video- and sound-recording capabilityAnother great feature of the Caplio G3 is that it can capture 120
seconds of AVI video with sound. This is perfect for times when motion
paints a much brighter picture than stills. It also has sound-recording
capabilities that enable the user to leave a 8-second "voice memo"
stamp to photos taken, which also allows it to act as a convenient voice
recorder.

Auto-bracket and white balance bracket
When challenging lighting situations arise, such as in heavy sunlight,
the handy auto-bracketing function allows the user to take three individual
shots, at different exposure settings, at one time. The same functionality
applies to the white balance bracket setting by applying tones of red,
normal white and blue to three separate images.

Caplio G3 design concept

Architect and industrial designer Masayuki Kurokawa, in collaboration
with in-house designers at Ricoh, developed the Caplio G3's design concept.
The Caplio G3's unique body shape was born from close observations on
how we hold objects such as pens, soda cans, round stones, and regular
35mm cameras. This examination led directly to the rounded shape that
the camera was granted, thus making it extremely comfortable to hold.